Chigitchakgre gets ‘Bee Village’ tag

Shillong: Chigitchakgre, a scenic hamlet under the Gambegre block in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, known for its exotic flowers and bumbling bees, was on Tuesday declared as a ‘Bee Village’ under Apiculture Mission 2.0 by chief minister Conrad K Sangma during a function that was held at the village playground.Addressing the gathering, Sangma said people of the state, especially in the villages, take up different activities for livelihood and the government in the last few years has been supporting these activities through different mission programmes.He added that the objective of declaring villages as ‘Bee Villages’ is a specific programme under the Apiculture Mission to help bee farmers through assistance.“We will provide all help and support that are needed for bee farming like training, financial assistance, bee boxes, bee-keeping tools, multi-facility buildings having stock rooms, training rooms and areas to sell and display the products,” he said.

Why Goan farmers are making a bee-line for honey-money

Beekeeping in Goa is now a thriving business for farmers, thanks to the abundance of flowering trees. The success of honey and beeswax production relies on well-maintained bee boxes and the quality of pollen from surrounding flowers. Goa has over 250 beekeepers who acknowledge the importance of these factors. The Agriculture Technology Management Agency has been promoting beekeeping through training sessions for farmers. The Goa Khadi and Village Industries Board also supports beekeeping. Sustaining a beekeeping operation requires consistent care, especially during the rainy season when flower availability decreases.

Medical emergency? This village is ready

Residents of Ghalib Kalan village in Jagraon, Punjab have taken the initiative to ensure healthcare facilities in their rural area. They have set up the Sarbhat Da Bhalla committee, which runs two free ambulances equipped with oxygen, providing timely treatment and transport to hospitals in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Faridkot, and Bathinda. The ambulances were acquired through funds donated by NRIs and some villagers, without government involvement. Dr. Satnam Singh's clinic also supports the initiative. The village, with a population of around 10,000, has a significant NRI presence, with 60-70% of the villagers being NRIs.